The National Exchange Hotel

Hospitality comes naturally to us at the National Hotel. We've had more than  130 years experience making our guests feel welcome. If you enjoy old-fashioned comfort and luxury, visit us at the oldest continuously operating hotel west of the Rocky Mountains. When you arrive, you'll step back into the Victorian era. Our sumptuous suites are furnished with antiques from the Gold Rush Days. Most rooms have private baths. Enjoy swimming and sunny afternoons in our secluded swimming pool filled with cool, clear mountain water. Travel through some of the most beautiful country in the world to lovely, historic Nevada City. The National Hotel is located an hour from Sacramento, two and a half hours from San Francisco Bay and 90 minutes from Reno, Nevada.  This is considered to be the oldest operating hotel in California, and possibly all of the West. Established in 1856, it has been in continuous operation except for a brief period where it was closed down due to fire damage and repaired.  People have reported seeing full body apparitions of men dressed in old-fashioned clothing sitting in the lobby and smoking cigars which would be odd if only for the fact that there is a no-smoking policy at the hotel.  Some claim to have seen the figure of a woman in Victorian era dress gliding through the bar area.  The piano is said to sometimes play at night and people have reported hearing other strange noises and to have felt cold spots.